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Friday, January 16, 2009

Fillies look toward spring in Cincinnati Trophy Stakes

FLORENCE, KY . . . January 16, 2009 . . . A dozen three-year-old fillies will go to the post at Turfway Park Saturday for the $50,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes. Carded at 6 1/2 furlongs, the Cincinnati Trophy is the first of two local preps for the Grade III Bourbonette Oaks on the Lane’s End undercard.

Emma Darling was the beaten favorite in the Gowell Stakes in December after a stumble at the start forced her to catch up to finish third. A better start in the Cincinnati Trophy would give her a chance to stay a few lengths off the pace, her preferred style. Trainer Mike Maker currently is second in the standings and began this meet with four consecutive Turfway training titles to his credit. Leading rider Victor Lebron will be back aboard.

Janou was fifth in the Gowell, only her second career start and a leap from her first, a $50,000 claiming race at Churchill Downs. She broke her maiden in that first start, leading gate to wire and digging in to win by a neck. She was beaten only 4 1/2 lengths in the Gowell after a big closing move and has two bullet works at Turfway since then, including a best-of-29 four furlongs in :47.60 a week ago. Rodney Prescott rides for trainer Buff Bradley.

Clear Cut steps up to stakes competition off an optional allowance win at Turfway in late December. The win was her second in two tries on Polytrack; the first was an $80,000 claiming race at Keeneland in October. Rusty Arnold trains, with Bill Troilo to ride.